I don't often go around advertising how passionate I am about preserving the environment, and thus the world, for future generations. Somehow, in the face of hunger, wars and violence, it seems trite to express passion about ecosystems. But, I do care...

Kaleidoscope Israel @ 60, the community-wide celebration of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the modern State of Israel is in full swing, and it is an occasion which deserves to be celebrated not only by the Jewish community of Greater St....

I have just returned from an extended trip to the Middle East, hoping that I would come back feeling recharged by the progress made in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, especially in the wake of the Annapolis peace conference. To my dismay, not in...

Our birthright israel tour bus came upon Eyal just south of Jerusalem. He was serving as one of our group's two armed guards for a run through Israel's Negev desert, and certainly came prepared for the job. Slung over one shoulder was his antiquated assault...

Upon being asked to write about my trip to Israel, I came to an astonishing conclusion: I don't remember anything. Now before you jump to any conclusions, understand that I was jetlagged for most of the trip and therefore completely in a fuzzy haze (my...

I read, with great interest, the stories in the Post-Dispatch and Jewish Light , about the efforts of dozens of people in the small town of Cairo, Ill., to convert to Judaism. With great effort, Phillip Matthews and his congregation endured hardships...

The surprise announcement by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt that he will not seek re-election has re-focused needed attention on the upcoming session of the Missouri General Assembly. In a recent report, which was published in our Jan. 23 edition, Sydell...

I was intrigued by Ellie Grossman's article, "B'nai mitzvah students thrive in Jewish Connection" (Jan. 2 column). She commented, "Jewish educators believe that the teenage years are the most critical time for forming a child's lifelong commitment to...

I was reading the article published about our empty food pantries recently. It's been on my mind lately, too: knowing first hand, that when I needed help, Sue Rundblad, at Jewish Family and Children's Services came to my aid. She's compassionate, never...

This week when Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond visited the campus to tour the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center exhibit, "Prijedor: Lives from the Bosnian Genocide," we were all reminded that mass killings are not just something limited to history books...

Can one individual make a difference in the struggle for democracy and morality in a world of repressive regimes and immoral military despots? That is the question addressed in the opening chapter of the book of Exodus. It begins with a brief description...

Each legislative session is a new opportunity for the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) to work for programs and policies that reflect its core values. High on the list are issues relating to economic, social and political justice. Improving,...